My heart aches. It's as if a hole has been punched right through my chest. Do you know that feeling when you see or hear something really terrible, then your stomach drops and your heart physically aches?

That's how I am feeling.

I got back to Valentino's home and immediately walked in on Titus. Not just Titus, but him with a woman. A beautiful woman. Straight away I drop my phone making him look up at me. He pauses and she leans her head back to see who just walked in, she then rolls her eyes and wraps her legs around his waist pulling him down. His gaze doesn't wonder from mine, I'm the one to break the contact by shaking my head.

Tears brim my eyes but I don't let them fall, instead I walk to the stairs and up to a guest room. I recall back on the night Amalia and Jarrad got married. We made out, I meant something then. Well, I thought I possibly did.

I will not show him how much he hurt me. I will not cry because of a man. A stupid man.

I jump onto the bed, wrapping the covers around my body like my own personal protection. A soft knock comes from the door and I sigh telling them to come in. Chris pokes his head through the door and smiles softly at me. We are both silent as he closes the door behind him and walks to the bed and sits down next to me.

"How is he so cruel? So cold? And so emotionless?" I cry, curling into his chest. Chris sighs, wrapping his arms around me and rubs soothing circles onto my back.

"He's a man, Em. He doesn't think. His brain is filled with 'I need to f*ck' chemicals sweetie."

I look up at him through my tear filled eyes and somehow manage to crack a smile. I need to f*ck chemicals? I let out a sniffle and sigh, "that is true. He just acts like nothing from that wedding meant anything to him. He said so many things then he pushed me away."

"It's what he does, Emberly. Titus is a broken man, he has been through so much. His dad wants nothing to do with him, his mother died, the love of his life died. Everything bad happens to the people Titus loves. He thinks he's cursed or some shit. I don't think that he could handle loving someone and them being hurt, so he pushes anyone away who he starts developing feelings for. It's nothing personal. He's trying to drive you away, he's trying to hurt you. So you won't fall for him."

I stare at the blankets with furrowed eyebrows. Everything he is saying makes sense. Titus is so closed off to the world because he's been hurt too many times. He thinks that it's better for him this way, to push everyone away who he sees a potential with. It saddens me to think that one individual could endure so much pain and suffering and experience so much loss.

"When I walked in, he saw me. He wanted to see my reaction. He wanted to see the look of hatred and sadness on my face. But I can't give him that. I want to help him, I do. Everyone is capable of being whole again," Chris nods in agreement to me. The door opens and Landon strides in, looking offended.

"A gossip session without me ladies? I'm offended," he places a hand over his heart and feigns hurt.

"I wouldn't call it a gossip session, wanker," Chris grumbles. He's clearly mad that Landon ruined yet another sweet moment. Landon has a fear of missing out, it is so noticeable because he has to be involved in nearly everything.

"Then what is it?" He asks.

"More like a heart to heart," Chris dryly replies.

"Did any of you see that b*tch Titus was f*cking on the couch? Looked totally wild but hot, maybe she'll do me next," my mouth drops open and so does Chris' at Landon's remark. He covers his mouth with his in realisation and slaps himself. "Your heart to heart was about Titus and that bitch."

"You are so insensitive!" Chris exclaims whilst I take deep breaths.

"Well how was I supposed to magically read your minds and realise it was about Titus!" He fires back.

That is a clever point, still I am upset and it made me sadder if that is even possible. The fact that he mentioned Titus was having sex with her, isn't a shock but still hurts me.

Landon winces and looks at me, clearly looking miserable and guilty. You know when you're in either physical or emotional pain but you laugh? Nothing about the situation is funny but you just laugh. That is currently me.

"Emberly, I'm sorry," he apologises.

"It's fine. You can't read minds," I say genuinely.

Chris hits him upside the head and rolls his eyes muttering 'f*cking twat' under his breath. "I say we go bowling, it's therapeutic," Landon grins.

"How is it therapeutic?" Chris scoffs at him.

"You're using balls to hit pins. A lot of anger and sadness can be channeled through rolling that ball," Chris taps his head as if it's the smartest thing he's ever said.

That's because it probably is the smartest thing he has ever said.

Landon isn't exactly the smartest in the tool shed. However, he's hilarious so it makes up for it. "Fine, I'm in. You convinced me," I say standing up.

"Are you going out looking like that?" Landon cringes, but attempts to cover it up with a wide smile.

"Everything that comes out of your mouth makes me want to put you on the bowling lane, then deliver a nice blow with the bowling ball to your actual balls. Plus rip your tongue out along the way," I smile sweetly after saying this. His most drops open and he suddenly acts nicely towards me. That's because he knows these threats are very real.

"You know I'm kidding, Em. You look gorgeous as always, anyway, let's go everyone! We dont have all night," Landon claps his hands.

Chris rolls his eyes at him and we all exit the room, the house is dead silent meaning Titus must have finished having his fun. I try to erase the picture from my head but it seems impossible. It makes me want to curl in a small ball and cry myself to sleep, but I won't show him that it affects me. I know I say I will help him but I don't know if I really can. If I'm continuously getting hurt along the way then what's the point? My mental health shouldn't be brought down because of him. Yourself always becomes before anyone else.

We descend the stairs, with the faint smell of sex lingering in the air. I notice a silhouette of a masculine shaped body on the couch, but I don't pay much attention to it.

"Bye bitch c*nt," Landon flips Titus off as well as saying that before exiting making me face palm. Letting Titus know that this effects me isn't what I want. That's only feeding the fuel to his fire.

Chris closes the door behind us and we walk to his car, all getting in and attempting to ignore what Landon said. But as soon as we seat ourselves in the car, Chris punches Landon while I go for the choke hold.

"You're so f*cking thick!" Chris exclaims.

"Bye bitch c*nt?!" I exclaim, repeating his words and releasing him.

"I thought it was a good idea at the time!" He attempts to defend himself.

I lean back in my chair and shake my head, groaning to myself. Men are so useless. They are so dumb. And so thick. Well, Landon is. We all stare at each other in silence but then burst out laughing. It was a tad bit funny, but still it annoyed me how he had to say that. We laugh so hard that tears form in our eyes.

"I wonder what his facials where! Gosh, he would be so pissed. I won't be surprised if I wake up to Landon screaming and begging for mercy," Chris laughs and starts the car, driving to the bowling alley.

"Well, luckily I know how to fight back," he smiles smugly.

Chris scoffs at him and shakes his head, "you're not very good at fighting Titus. The only one that can actually beat Titus in a fight is Valentino."

Landon seems offended at Chris' response, he shoves him making him move the steering wheel quickly. I lean over and slap Landon, scolding him for hitting the driver. My life may suck, but that doesn't mean I want to die today.

"Suck my d*ck," Landon grumbles.

Chris scrunches his face up in disgust. "Ew, I would probably catch something severe like chlamydia or aids."

His comment makes me laugh loudly, Landon turns around to scowl at me for encouraging Chris' jokes.

We arrive at the bowling alley and exit the car, Landon adds a skip to his walk every now and then showing how truely happy he is with life. Chris makes sure to lock the car and we all walk inside. I feel as if we are on he sketchy part of town so o hope Landon and Chris are both good fighters.

Landon insists to shout us all, claiming he's a "rich bitch" and has heaps of money. I don't complain though. After multiple rounds of bowling, I have found one of my weaknesses. Bowling. My score for 4 rounds equals to 13 pins. Whereas Landons equals to 36 and Chris has 30. I would say it is a solid effort, but it's downright disgraceful. I should have put the side bumpers up.

At least I would have had some sort of chance then, instead my pride got to me. I've known that I'm not the best at bowling but that was years ago. You would think a person would improve.

"And I've won again! You all suck bitches so kiss my ass!" Landon boats very loudly. "You see that, baby? I've won by a total of 15 points," he says to a girl passing by. She ignores him.

We all finish up, this having successfully improved my foul mood. We are all laughing about me falling on my ass one time, then another time I accidentally hit the ball to Landon and Chris' direction and successfully hit Chris. Landon was amused by that. Chris uses that as an excuse for losing to Landon.

But we are all stopped by 4 men. All in black, tall and masculine. Tattoos linger over their bodies, one man even has an eyepatch. "Look at this boys, Landon Edwards and Chris Hale. Valentino's bitches," the man with the eye patch spits.

Landon and Chris pull me behind them and sneer at the four men. They all look to me, with sinister looks on their faces. "Dominic, always a pleasure to see you," Chris smiles distastefully.

"Where is Valentino anyway? He's gotta pay some day for my fucking eye," he hisses. "Is this his girl?" He points to me.

"No," Landon firmly says.

"Whose girl is she then? If she's none of yours then I wouldn't mind taking her," the man named Dominic continues.

"She's Titus' girl so back the f*ck off!" Chris shouts. The guy next to Dominic smirks, a big one too and takes a step closer. I gulp, confused with what's happening. We are outnumbered so if they wanted to attack us they easily could. Landon and Chris couldn't fight off four huge men. I discretely message Valentino to come to us, to take precautions.

"Titus' girl, aye?" The man with black hair and dark skin and eyes says. "What a f*cked up c*nt. You're too pretty for him sexy, you can come in my bed any day. I'll make you feel 10 fines better," he winks disgustingly at me.

"Roman back the f*ck off. Titus didn't do sh*t to you! You were the one that got caught in the heist, not him. That's your own fault that you're a dumb f*cking b*tch," Landon hisses at him. Roman charges at him and goes for the punch but Landon catches his fist. Heist. There was a heist! And Titus was involved!

Whilst Dominic distracts Chris, the last two men come at me. One with wavy hair, one with an Afro. They both grab my arms and I scream at them to release me, Chris and Landon both attempt to charge over to me but we are too outnumbered. "Let me go you c*ck suckers!" I scream and kick around.

A car comes swerving in and I already know who it is. Valentino, Titus, Mike, Jarrad and Aidan all come charging out of the car. Titus comes charging at the two men holding me, their eyes widen slightly. He delivers a perfect blow to one of their faces and kicks the other one back. Titus grabs me, pulling me to his chest and inspects me from head to toe.

"Are you okay? Did they do anything else?" He asks me questions, making sure I'm fine. I nod slowly and hug him so tight. I know I was supposed to be angry at him, but I can't be at a time like this.

"I'm fine."

"Dominic tell your men to back the f*ck off my girl." My mind is swarming with so many things, I'm confused and I'm scared.

Mike grabs Roman by the neck and pulls him off Landon and Aidan checks up on him. I look to Valentino, whom is holding a.... a gun. He's holding a gun against Dominic's head. A GUN. I gasp and move away from everyone. Who are these people?

"Going for a lady, huh? I thought you and your men knew better to gang up on my men and attempt to touch Titus' girl," Val growls lowly.

"Julian, Caesar. Hold yourselves back," Dominic holds his hands up in the air in surrender. "An unfair fight hm? I thought you the were big old tough gang leader, but you can't even fight me like a man," Dominic patronises him.

Valentino scoffs, "oh please. You know I could easily beat you in a fight. I just don't feel like it right now."

Julian, Caesar and Roman all bring their guns out. Jarrad, Aidan, Landon, Chris, Mike and Titus all bring out guns and hold them up as well. My mouth drops open at this. They all own guns. Why do they all own guns? What is happening. I continue taking steps back, afraid of everything that's happening.

"I'm repulsed that I used to consider you as brother," Dominic hisses. "Both you and Titus," he points to them both.

"Put your guns away and you'll leave unharmed," Valentino orders.

They don't put their guns away for a solid 2 minutes then decide to. All of them back away into a clump, claiming they'll be back. Roman winks at me, making Titus clench his fists. They all leave and the boys turn to me, a shocked, crying and scared girl.

"WHAT THE FUDGE! YOU ALL CARRY AROUND GUNS! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE!" I scream. Titus attempts to console me but I push him away with a warning.

"We are gang members."
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So what do you think? I know I haven't updated in forever but that's because I've had all my exams and I've had to study.

Sorry for the wait

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Keely